Self-Catering in Gonarezhou

Swimuwini Rest Camp, Gonarezhou National Park

 

Self-Catering in Gonarezhou

Masasani Mananga, Gonarezhou National Park

 

Self-Catering in Gonarezhou

Chipinda Pools Tented Camp, Gonarezhou National Park

 

Self-Catering in Gonarezhou

Mathuli Mananga, Gonarezhou National Park

Gonarezhou Self-Catering Accommodation

The Gonarezhou self-catering accommodation facilities are all about comfort, convenience and simplicity – giving you the perfect base from which to explore Gonarezhou National Park. Whether it is the Gonarezhou Mananga Camps, the Chipinda Pools Tented Camp or the Chalet-style Swimiwini Camp, each provides for magnificent vistas of the Park, giving you a place to enjoy your piece of this amazing wilderness!

Gonarezhou is about wilderness – about tourism for conservation – about preserving this space for the future.
Masasani Mananga, Gonarezhou National Park
The Gonarezhou Mananga Camps are designed to be extremely low footprint camps, being built almost entirely from natural or repurposed materials and run by ladies from the local community. The camps suit groups traveling together and are the ideal blend between wild camping and some modern luxuries.
Gonarezhou's Tented Camps have long been a favourite of our self-drive guests visiting Gonarezhou. Located at Chipinda Pools and Chipale, the tents are suited to couples or groups. The tented Camp are the perfect base to start off your Gonarezhou adventure.
Swimuwini remains one of the historic camps in Gonarezhou. Set high on the banks of the Mwenezi River, with a view over the famous Buffalo Bend, the camp comprises 8 fully equipped, chalet-style accommodation units. The camp also has a central meeting room, designed for small workshops or conferences.
The Bosmans Camp is a Tented Camp set high up on the banks of the Mwenezi river with a view across to the Malipati Safari Area. The camp is down stream of Swimuwini and Rossi Pools in the south of Gonarezhou and is ideal for groups travelling together.
Mathuli Mananga, Gonarezhou National Park

Mananga Camp

Our Mananga Camps are a unique blend of local Shangaan Culture and modern luxuries, designed to be unique, comfortable and low impact. Named Mananga by the ladies who built them and meaning “a place in the wilderness”, the camps are designed to bring together three critical elements of conservation – communities, sustainability and tourism. The camps are made almost entirely by hand using recycled and natural materials and are rebuilt each year by a team of skilled artisans from the local communities around Gonarezhou. Containing almost no cement, no landscaping and built into their natural environment, the camps have an extremely light footprint and would all but disappear without the regular attention of the Mananga ladies, recruited and trained by GCT, who manage and maintain the camps.

Our Manangas are the perfect blend between the comfort of a chalet and the adventure of camping, giving you the luxuries of a hot “bush” (bucket) shower, a comfortable king-size bed and the raw experience of an open campfire under the stars in the central boma area. Each of the two Mananga Camps in the Park is designed similar to a traditional safari camp, but are booked exclusively, with four-bedroom units and a central kitchen/dining/boma area.

Masasani Mananga

Our Masasani Mananga was the first “prototype” of the Mananga Camps in Gonarezhou. Developed at the old Masasanya Camp at the Masasanya Dam, just 15 minutes from the main Chipinda Pools gate, the Masasani Mananga provides a first-class wildlife experience. The camp is completely unfenced.

Mathuli Mananga

Mathuli Mananga is framed by the towering trees that famously grow along the Mwenezi River. Built by local Shangaan artisans and informed by traditional cultural design shapes, colours, textures and approaches, Mathuli has specialness to it- its exclusivity and the feeling of being all on your own.

Mananga Camp Information

Min. PAX 4
Max. PAX 8
Max. Cars 4
Accommodation 4 Ensuite bedrooms units, each with a capacity of max of 2 adults and 2 children

Central kitchen/dining/boma area.

Amenities  

Equipment = cutlery, crockery, linen and towels provided.

Fridge(s) = 210L Chest Freezer; 210L Chest Fridge.

Charging facilities = yes at the central area.

Fans = no.

Water = yes, untreated borehole/sand abstracted water.

Camp Attendant(s) Yes
Rates* From US$ 220 (US$ 55pppn)
Bookings Exclusively booked

*Minimum charge for four adult PAX (or two-bedroom units), additional PAX charged at applicable per person rate; Children on stretchers charged  per person

Chipinda Pools Tented Camp, Gonarezhou National Park

Tented Camps

Gonarezhou’s Tended Camps are a combination of camping and staying in luxury. There are two tented camps- Chipinda Pools Tented Camp and Chipale Tented Camp. Both camps offer a luxurious developed camping experience overlooking the Runde River. The river is set just below the camp and fishermen may purchase a fishing license upon entry, allowing them to fish in front of the camp (without disturbing other guests).

Chipinda Pools Tented Camp
Located just 10 minutes from the Chipinda Pools entrance and set on the banks of the Runde River, the camp is the perfect base from which to start your adventure in Gonarezhou. Whether you are a keen birder, a fisherman or just enjoy the space and wilderness, the tented camp is your perfect base. The riverine area, where the tents are located, is home to some unique bird species and is also frequented by both bush buck, nyala, often seen from your own verandah.

There are four tents in total, all fully equipped, with king-size or twin beds, a small kitchenette with a 90L camping fridge, en-suite bathroom and a braai area.

Chipale Tented Camp
Chipale Tented Camp is strategically positioned just a few minutes drive away from Chilojo Cliffs. Chipale Tented Camp aims to provide visitors with an exceptional game viewing safari experience in the Gonarezhou wilderness offering scenic diversity along a wildlife freeway where one can see herds of elephants, lion prides, groups of waterbucks and kudus crossing the riverbed in face of the camp. The camp offers a developed camping experience with a striking view of the cliffs while overlooking the Runde river.

There are six ensuite bedroom tents in total, fully furnished with king/twin beds, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Tented Camp Information

Min. PAX 2*
Max. PAX 4*
Max. Cars 2
Accommodation 4 tents in all, each with a capacity of hosting a max of 4 people (2 bed + 2 stretchers).
Amenities  

Equipment = cutlery, crockery (4 PAX each), linen and towels provided.

Fridge = 96L Snomaster Camping fridge/freezer.

Charging facilities = No.

Fans = No.

Water = yes, untreated borehole/sand abstracted water.

Camp Attendant Yes – Shared
Rates From US$ 115

* Additional guests on stretchers charged per person.

Swimuwini Rest Camp, Gonarezhou National Park

Swimuwini Lodges

Swimuwini Lodges overlooks the epic sweep of the Mwenezi River, fondly known as Buffalo Bend. Swimuwini in the local dialect means “place of the Baobabs”, the place offers a touch of modern luxury in the wild. Swimuwini lodges offer a unique experience for your Gonarezhou adventure, exploring the incredible landscape that surrounds the lodge.

It is the only place in the Park where we have constructed lodges comfortably appointed. The Swimuwini chalets are fully contained and serviced, self-catering units found in the southern section of the Park, making them an ideal accommodation for those who are not fully kitted out with camping equipment or those who wish for a comfortable landing after a long drive. Some units are wheelchair friendly.

There are 8 lodges in total- 6 x 2 bedrooms and 2 x 1 bedroom.

Trichelia
Trichelia is the only thatched lodge at Swimuwini Rest Camp, found on the Mwedzi River bank edge with a stunning view of both ends of the Buffalo Bend.
A bigger family lodge with an indoor dining room and a long time favourite of guests. It is a two-bedroom unit, equipped with King size bed while the other bedroom has two convertible three-quarter beds.
Two Bedroom
Kigelia and Albizia are identical, two units equipped with King size bed in the first bedroom while the other bedroom has two three-quarter beds that can be converted into a king-size bed.
Nyala, Tamboti, and Cussonia have the same layout and the room configuration is also one King size bed in the first bedroom while the other bedroom has two three-quarter beds that can be converted into king-size beds.
One Bedroom
Acacia and Cordyla are the only one bedroomed lodges at Swimuwini Rest Camp.
They have a similar layout- one has a king-size bed while the other bedroom has a bed that can be converted to two singles.

Swimuwini Camp Information

Max. PAX

·         1 Bedroom

·         2 Bedroom

·         Trichelia

 

2*

4*

4*

Max. Cars 2
Accommodation 6x 2 bedroom lodges; 2x 1 bedroom lodge (accommodates up to 2 adults).
Amenities  

Equipment = cutlery, crockery, linen and towels provided.

Fridge = 265L upright fridge with top freezer space.

Charging facilities = yes but limited due to solar.

Fans = yes, standing fans.

Water = yes, untreated borehole/sand abstracted water.

Camp Attendant Yes
Rates ·         1 Bedroom From US$ 85

·         2 Bedroom From US$ 150

·         Trichelia From US$ 160

* Additional guests on stretchers are charged per person.

Bosman’s Community Camp, Gonarezhou National Park

Bosman’s Community Camp

The camp is a Tourism Partnership developed between Malipati Development Trust, Gonarezhou National Park, and the Chiredzi Rural District Council with support from SAT-Wild and funding generously provided by the European Union and USAID.
The camp is set high up on the banks of the Mwenezi river with a view across to the Malipati Safari Area and downstream of Swimuwini and Rossi Pools in the south of Gonarezhou.
There are six fully furnished en suite tents with a central kitchen, dining and boma area. The camp is booked on a self-catering basis and can either be booked as a single camp of six units or as two separate camps of four units at Bosmans Main Camp and two units at Little Bosmans Camp. The Bosmans Area is bordered by Gonarezhou on three sides and is just seven kilometres from the Manjinji Pan Sanctuary as the crow flies.
Bosmans Main Camp
Bosmans Main camp is located at the site of the old Bosmans Lodge (Malipati Safari Lodge) and comprises four en-suite tent units and a central kitchen/dining/boma area. The camp can be combined with Little Bosmans for larger groups, or can be sold as just Bosman's Main Camp
Little Bosmans Camp
Little Bosmans Camp is directly adjacent to the Main Camp and consists to two ensuite tented units with a smaller central kitchen/dining/boma area. The Little Bosmans Camp is suited to smaller groups of up to 4 people sharing.

Bosman's Camp Information

Min. PAX 2*
Max. PAX 12*
Max. Cars 6
Accommodation 6 ensuite Meru-style Safari Tents
Amenities  

Equipment = cutlery, crockery, linen and towels provided.

Fridge(s) = 410L Chest Freezer; 275L upright fridge.

Charging facilities = yes at the central area.

Fans = no.

Water = yes, untreated borehole/sand abstracted water.

Camp Attendant Yes
Rates** From US$ 260 (US$65) ppn

* Additional guests on stretchers charged per person.

** Rates indicated are based on accommodation only. Conservation Fees, Community Levies, Vehicle Fees and extras charged separately.